#7 Kai Daniells celebrating his first-period goal.
#35 Aidan Campbell was stellar in net making 29 saves and earning 3rd-star of the game.
By Malcom Cooke
On Wednesday night, the Nanaimo Clippers fell to the Victoria Grizzlies 3-2 in overtime. The low scoring match up was highlighted by spectacular key saves by both goalies. Aidan Campbell made 29 saves for the Clippers, including numerous spectacular saves to keep the game close. Kai Daniells and Charles Tardif scored Nanaimo’s two goals. The Clippers remain comfortably placed first in the Coastal Division as the 2022-23 season winds down.
The game started scoreless through the first half of the first period. Clipper netminder Aidan Campbell made a sprawling save to keep the game tied midway through the period. Grizzlies goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton countered with a solid save after a Clippers' breakaway chance. Victoria broke the deadlock 14 minutes into the game, taking a 1-0 lead. In the final minute of the first period, Kai Daniells beat Auyeung-Ashton through the five-hole to tie the game at 1-1. The goal was Daniells’ 30th of the season. Shot totals were also tied at 9-9 going into the first intermission in a tight matchup between the two Island rivals.
The second period began with more defensive hockey as both teams kept each other to the outside, not allowing scoring chances. Victoria was granted the game's first power-play midway into the second period. The penalty was killed off by the Clippers as the game remained tied. Upon returning to even strength, Brody Waters was sprung on a breakaway but could not break the tie. Aidan Campbell stretched the length of the net to deny what would have been the go-ahead goal for Victoria. With the spark of momentum, the Clippers attacked Victoria’s zone. Mike Murtagh dug the puck out of a corner before sending it on net to be tapped home by Charles Tardif for a 2-1 Clipper lead. As time was winding down Brody Waters had the puck and stared at a gaping Victoria net. Auyeung-Ashton swatted the shot away with the paddle of his stick to keep the game at 2-1 in a Wednesday night goalie duel.
Back-to-back penalties to start the third led to extended 4 on 4 action. Neither side was able to take advantage of the extra time and space. Victoria tied the game 2-2 in the latter half of the third period on a backhanded goal that snuck behind Aidan Campbell. In the final minute of the third Skylar Cameron took his second penalty of the game, giving Victoria a chance to win the game. 60 minutes was not enough time to decide on a winner. The Clippers would start the overtime period down a skater. The penalty was killed off without surrendering a shot in overtime. Toward the end of overtime, Jake Hewitt laid a thunderous open ice hit on a Victoria defender and nearly ended the game. Victoria ultimately scored the game-winner on a counterattack to hand the Clippers a 3-2 loss.
Grizzlies forward Owen Bohn earned the game’s first star with the game-winning goal. Oliver Auyeung-Ashton was second star and Aidan Campbell rounded out the three stars. Mike Murtagh took home FortisBC Energy Player of the Game.
The Clippers will play a single road game against the Cowichan Valley Capitals before returning to the Frank Crane Arena on March 10th to face the Powell River Kings. Tickets can be purchased at Nanaimoclippers.com or the Frank Crane box office on game day.
